Marine turtles, while not a fish species but rather marine reptiles, are included in global fisheries statistics under the category “Marine Turtles Not Elsewhere Included” due to their historical and ongoing exploitation in some regions. These turtles, which include species such as the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), and hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), have long been harvested for their meat, shells, and eggs. The top countries historically and currently associated with marine turtle harvesting include Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and several nations in the Caribbean and West Africa. While international trade in marine turtle products is now largely banned under CITES and most countries have enacted protective legislation, illegal and small-scale subsistence fishing persists in some areas. The fishing industry for marine turtles is now mostly unregulated and often clandestine, with conservation efforts and enforcement varying widely by country. Despite global declines in legal harvests, these countries remain significant due to ongoing local consumption and traditional practices.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.